Transforming climate and health research with communities

The people most affected by climate change are often excluded from the research about it. What can we all do to change this?

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face, but the people living with its consequences are rarely included in the conversations that shape policy, research, or action.

The barrier isn’t interest. It’s access. Climate and health conversations happen without these communities, in places they don’t go, in languages they don’t use, in formats that don’t work for them.

In east London, that gap is stark. Newham and Tower Hamlets face some of the worst air pollution in the UK and some of the highest rates of premature cardiovascular disease in the country. These are communities on the frontline of the climate and health crisis, yet almost entirely absent from the research and decision‑making meant to address it.

This panel brings together community researchers, practitioners and academics working to change that, not just for this moment, but to test and document inclusive, community‑led approaches that others can learn from and build on.

Join us for a practical, energising conversation about what meaningful engagement looks like, why it matters, and how we can do it better.

Hear real case studies, learn what works, and leave with ideas you can act on.

The panel discussion will start at 3pm.

Hosted by:

People Street with UCL Centre for Transdisciplinary Research, PAICE – Climate and health for a fairer future, Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering and UCL East Cultural and Community Engagement Team

Part of the public programme for Wish you were here: Imagining a climate healthy city and Canvas project.

Photo credit: Markus Spiske